Psalm 25:14 “The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.” (NIV)
The other day I went out to eat, and when I finished I looked down at my tie and there it was, a big greasy spot on my new tie. The spot wasn’t very big, but it controlled my thinking as I stole look after look at the tie with a greasy stain. I finally took the tie off and put it with the clothes going to the dry cleaners. It is amazing to me that we can have 99% perfection, but our eyes are able to see that 1% spot of grease. A stain in our lives is called sin, and sin destroys our peace of mind, wellness of heart, and confidence of spirit. Sin must be dealt with in our lives immediately, urgently, and completely, or we will not see our way to following our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, because sin results in self-absorption, taking our focus away from following Jesus our Lord.
Psalm 25 is an experiential psalm of David as he relates what it takes to be guided by God in his paths and in his ways. David really desires to have intimacy in his relationship with his God, since you can see it seeping out of every verse; however, there is one big problem that blocks his walk and disturbs his relationship, and that is the sin problem. You can see David struggling with his sin problem as he pleads with God to remember not the sins of his youth or his rebellious ways (25:7). Further, David remembers that God instructs sinners in their ways, and asks that God forgive him his iniquity, which is great. Going beyond that thought, David urges God to relieve his affliction and distress by taking away all his sins. The point cannot be clearer that David must have his sin dealt with in order to walk rightly with his God.
Do you hate the sin in your life and look on it as a stain, or have you grown comfortable with your sin as if with an old pair of shoes? For God to guide your way, he is looking for three things:
- God desires a humble heart, a heart that will listen to his guidance and teaching (25:9) Do you take time to listen, or do you do all the talking in the presence of Holy God?
- God desires an obedient spirit that keeps the demands of his covenant or Word (25:10). Do you listen to your Lord and do you apply his instruction in your life? God cannot lead if you refuse to follow.
- God desires that men and women fear him, or respect and reverence the things of God (25:12). We only value and cherish those things that are important to us, and if we ignore God, he cannot instruct us.
Our devotional text points to the material point for one who would be a Christian pilgrim through this life, and that is if we are to have a close, personal, and intimate relationship with God, we must love, respect, and crave his presence in our lives so that he might confide in us as his friends to make known his perfect will for our lives!
TODAY, FATHER, PURGE MY SIN FROM MY LIFE BY WASHING AWAY MY SIN STAIN AND MAKING ME WHITER THAN SNOW, SO THAT YOU WILL RESTORE ME TO YOURSELF, AND CONFIDE WITH ME ON YOUR HOLY WILL, SO THAT I WILL WALK IN YOUR PATHS. AMEN!
Article by: Mike White @ Summit church of Christ
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